How I Keep My Dog’s Skin and Coat Healthy

I love grooming my dog! But for this love affair to continue, I always try to ensure that her skin and coat are healthy, which makes the whole process much easier and more pleasurable.

My pooch is known for having a shiny, healthy, gorgeous coat. Having a healthy coat literally starts at the skin, and what I do for my pet just doesn't compare to any of the tips or tricks I've ever seen online. There are so many things you can do to keep your dog's skin and coat healthy without really doing anything at all.

Did you know the skin is the largest and one of the most important organs of your body? The same is true for canines. Your dog's skin protects him from infections, parasites, and the elements of his environment. Therefore, maintaining healthy skin is critical in keeping your pet healthy and keep his overall well-being at the peak level.

Just like us, canine skin is exposed to many environmental triggers that can cause skin issues including allergens, pollutants, parasites, and even the dog food that we feed them. It is important to know how to maintain your dog's skin and coat and keep them healthy. Here are the tips, tricks, and secrets that I use with my canine.

How I Keep My Dog's Skin and Coat Healthy

As I mentioned, keeping your dog's coat healthy starts with the skin. Keeping the skin healthy is as much about the topical treatments you use, like shampoo, as it is about the food you're feeding your dog that is nurturing the skin from within. Be aware of all the dog products, especially grooming products, that you use and be sure that they are fortified to enhance your dog's skin and coat.

The Right Dog Shampoo

My dog does not take water baths. Whenever I used to give her a bath, it would turn into a complete nightmare. She'd freak out about getting in the tub, she's managed to kick me in the face a number of times, and would leap right out if I was actually able to get her in there. At one point, she stopped fighting me and actually got in, but as soon as the soap came out, she had had enough.

Therefore, I started to worry about how to keep my dog clean, until I found a great dog grooming product. I use Perfect Coat Waterless Shampoo, pictured on the right, for my dog's baths now. I love this waterless shampoo for dogs because it gets her coat clean, without sacrificing her skin's health. There are a lot of pet products out there, waterless and dry powder shampoos, that absolutely dry out and practically kill a dog's skin.

Unlike other dog shampoos, this one doesn't contain alcohol. The aloe vera included in this product really helps my dog have a shiny coat and healthy skin. This shampoo also does not leave any residue behind like a lot of other similar products do, so I'm incredibly pleased with it every time I use it on my Fido. Her coat and skin never look messy anymore, and I always get compliments on how gorgeous she is.

My Secret Weapon for Grooming My Dog

I started using this product, which I'm about to reveal to you, because of different reasons. My dog has an anxiety problem, so I bought her this item to help with that. However, after a couple of weeks of using the new product on her, I found that her coat had a serious shine to it, and she was always smelling great. I figured it was just the waterless shampoo that I use on her, but the smell was different.

It took me a bit to figure out what it was that was making her coat look 5 times shinier, but then I finally figured it out. It was the calming spray! I use Burt's Bees Calming Spray for Dogs for my dog's anxiety problem, but little did I know, it was helping her in more ways than one.

The green tea extract in this dog calming spray gives my pooch's fur an extra boost of shine and health, and in the beginning, I had no idea it would do this. I love this pet product so much because it helps with my dog's anxiety issues, is great for her skin and her coat, and it does not upset her natural pH balance!

I use green tea bags on my face when I'm having blemish problems, and apparently that works on dogs, too! I mean the extract on their skin of course, not actually placing green tea bags on my dog. I had no idea, and I bet you didn't either, but now you do. This spray is amazing, and I've been buying it for over a year now.

My Pet's Favorite Part of the Grooming Process

Too many tasty pet treats for a dog is not a good thing, but I give my canine plenty of natural, healthy dog treats which give her skin and her coat the nutrition they need. I've discovered three different kinds of treats for dogs that help keep my pet's skin and coat extremely healthy, and I'll go into a little detail about each one below.

Greenies is a brand which is known to help dog's teeth, but did you also know that these treats seem to help their skin and coat? I had no idea, obviously, until Greenies were the only treats I started giving to my dog. I don't use all the products I've been talking about so far every day, but I usually give her a waterless bath once a month, and use the spray whenever I need to. Greenies, however, she gets almost every day.

When I started giving her Greenies dog treats, I noticed an improvement in her teeth. I also noticed sort of a healthy shine appear on her coat after about two weeks of giving them to her. She was happy with the taste, and I was happy with her healthy teeth, skin, and coat.

I've also discovered another secret to a healthy skin and fur for dogs, and you probably won't be surprised at what it is; it's salmon! Now, I always buy my dog treats with salmon as one of the main ingredients, but it improves her skin and her coat too. Typically I like to use Farmer's Market Natural Salmon Vegetables Recipe.

I also use Nature's Bits with Salmon and Strawberry when I run out of the Farmers Market ones. The main ingredient is – surprise, surprise – salmon, which really helps to keep my dog's skin and coat healthy. If you're a dog owner who always gives your dog treats, then switch to something that will really improve their look while still remaining all natural.

Keeping a Healthy, Happy Dog

Your dog's health starts at the skin, so nourish it with the vitamins and minerals that it needs. If you're noticing problems with your dog's fur, such as patches falling out or their fur looking raggedy, then it's probably an issue with the pet's skin. However, I'm not a vet, so I can't say for sure. The best thing to do would be to see your primary veterinary care provider to get a definite answer.

One of the biggest factors in the health of your pet's coat is their diet. Feed your dog a high-quality diet that is fortified to benefit their skin and coat. Fish oil is a common ingredient in pet foods formulated for coat and skin health. You could also chat with your vet about giving your pooch a dog supplement of fish oil, or one of the many skin and coat supplements for dogs you can purchase at pet stores or online.

Either way, there are so many ways to improve your dog's overall look. Take it from me, having a gorgeous, healthy, happy dog makes me incredibly happy; my Fido looks and feels great too! What could be better than that? These pet products are actually relatively cheap, so you don't have to worry about burning a hole in your pocket, and you can find them all at your local pet store or with a few mouse clicks on Amazon or other online retailers.

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